Right up front, I think it's important you know I am not particularly a fan of Jerry Lewis films. I am sure he's a wonderful human being, but I have never really understood the appeal of his comedies--particularly his solo efforts. Now that does not mean I dislike all his films ("The Delicate Delinquent" and "The Sad Sack" are very good comedies),I just don't have a burning love for his movies like some reviewers. So why am I watching many of his films recently? Well, because I want to be fair--and in recent months I have deliberately chosen some big name stars whose work I am not all that fond of in order to re-assess them--to give them a fair chance. For example, I was never a fan of Marlon Brando, so I recently saw almost all his films and have a greater appreciation for some of his movies. Now, I am working on Jerry Lewis--especially since a good friend felt I was being too hard on the man's work.

"Who's Minding the Store" begins with a rich lady (Agnes Moorehead) consulting with some of her help. Apparently, she's had them spy on her daughter's boyfriend (Lewis) to see what sort of guy he is. She sees him as an uncultured idiot and feels she must do something to break up the couple--she CAN'T have her daughter marrying THAT! Moorehead decides to try to break them up by proving to her daughter that he is weak and incompetent--and she plans on making his new job at the department store (one she owns) horrible--to make him quit and to humiliate him. So, she gets her manager (Ray Walston) to give him every horrible job he can think of...and the manager thinks of many! As for Lewis, he has no idea his girl (Jill St. John) is wealthy, as she lives simply and he also has no idea he's been under surveillance or that he's being set up to fail on this job.

The style of this film is very episodic--and that's not a bad thing. Each time Lewis is given a new job, it's like a separate comedy bit. And, when they don't work so well, they come so often that the momentum is quite nice--and most of these situations are very enjoyable (such as the lady wrestler, his very famous invisible typewriter bit and the ladies sale). In addition, Jerry is much more likable in this one, as he does NOT mug for the camera and is pretty restrained (often a problem in some of his other films)--he's also a very a nice guy. It's also very, very nice seeing his relationship with his future father-in-law (John McGiver)--it's really sweet. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by this one--it was restrained, well-acted and had some nice laughs. Even the over the top vacuum bit was worth seeing--even if this one did lack subtlety! Because I enjoyed this so much, perhaps I can look past some of Lewis' duds like "Cracking Up" (ewww....now THAT'S bad) and I look forward to the next.

Post-Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis films were a mixed bag. You must totally suspend reality to enjoy the somewhat bizarre visual humor Lewis encompasses in his films. This movie is no exception for some of its gags, but for the most part, many of these bits offer genuine laughs.

That future witchy mother-in-law Agnes Moorehead is at her domineering best as department store owner Phoebe Tuttle (even the name is domineering!) as she schemes to keep her beautiful daughter Jill St. John from marrying Lewis, whom Moorehead considers a useless idiot. She has her department store personnel manager Ray Walston hire Lewis and give him the worst jobs possible in hopes of discrediting him with St. John. She doesn't count on Lewis befriending her milquetoast husband (John McGiver),the in-name only president of the firm, as well as succeeding in many of the tasks and somehow escape the others without quitting and proving her right.

Lewis is an acquired taste, but how can you not laugh at Lewis pretending to type to the popular instrumental ditty "The Typewriter"? He's also very funny as he finds a way to paint the tip of a 9th story flagpole. Dealing with a lady wrestler (Peggy Mondo) trying to fit into shoes way too small is painfully unfunny as is (sadly) the sequence with the usually delightful Nancy Kulp as a butch big game hunter. Usual Lewis nemesis Kathleen Freeman is wasted as another one of Lewis's customers in basically a walk-in. (Pardon the pun; Her appearance is in the shoe department.) The three most hysterical sequences involve store products-a golf ball, a small boat and a vacuum cleaner. These are all farcial in presentation and lack the violence of the other sequences mentioned above. Dick Wessel is funny in a recurring gag as a traffic cop who is the unfortunate victim of some of Lewis's work assignments gone wrong. Walston is appropriately "effette" as Moorehead's co-conspirator, but it seems odd to giver his character sort of a lothario trait.

St. John has nothing to do but be lovely and noble, so she is upstaged by her on-screen parents McGiver and Moorehead. Each of them offers a lot of laughs, especially Moorehead, who is basically indistinguishable from her portrayal of "Bewitched"'s Endora. At least viewers in 1964 could see her ravishing red hair several years before "Bewitched" went to color, not to mention the blue eye shadow. Such familiar classic character comics as Fritz Feld, Mary Treen, Isobel Elsom and Milton Frome also appear in nice bits, although Feld's sequence (as manager of an exotic food shop) is literally, in bad taste.

Norman Phiffier (Jerry Lewis) is a bungler young whose previous jobs include that of caddy , TV repairman, and Paramount Theater usher. Barbara (Jill St. John) is a very rich girl posing as an elevator-girl and falls in love with Norman . He now works as a store clerk in a large department store. Clumsy and inept, he set loose in store and can't do anything right . Boy are they in trouble . But , Barbara's mother (Agnes Morehead) doesn't want her daughter to marry such a poor man.

Amusing and spasmodic comedy with the genius comic Jerry Lewis acting in his stereotyped role by relinquishing creative control and concentrating on humor based on destruction and wreak havoc , nice inventive bits , skilfully combining the entertainment with the amusement. It features quick editing , wild and outrageous gags , and extremely odd angles. Enjoyable film with characters genuine and sympathetic , it is plenty of humor , tongue-in-cheek , side-splitting sight gags and amusement . Director Frank Tashlin introduces cinematic especial techniques in animated cartoon style , such as odd camera angles, montage and quickly paced editing , as some shots lasting only five frames long . Jerry Lewis is top-notch playing a botcher and meek store clerk ; Jerry played similar character as a bumbling idiot in other films such as a caddy in ¨The Caddy¨ and a TV repairman in both ¨Rock-a-Bye Baby¨ and ¨It's Only Money¨. The co-starring role stands out Jill St. John , surely the most gorgeous girl any clerk ever had . Excellent support cast formed by likable secondaries as Ray Walston as Mr. Quimby , John McGiver as Mr. John P. Tuttle and special mention to Agnes Moorehead as Mrs. Phoebe Tuttle . Furthermore , watch rapidly to veteran Kathleen Freeman . Colorful and shimmer cinematography in Technicolor by Wallace Kelley and catching musical score .

The motion picture was well directed by Frank Tashlin , one of the few directors to successfully make the transition from animation to live-action , as he directed his cartoons like live-action films and his live-action films like cartoons . He directed various vehicles for Jerry Lewis as ¨The Geisha boy¨, ¨Hollywood or Bust¨ , ¨Rock-a-Bye Baby¨ , ¨Cinderfella¨ and for Bob Hope as ¨The son of Paleface¨ . Who's minding the store ? is considered to be one of his best films . Rating : 6,5 . Entertaining and amusing movie that it will appeal to Jerry Lewis fans . Worthwhile watching .